The Spiritual Brewpub

Becky Garrison joins Michael to discuss her new book, Gaslighting for God: A Satirical Guide to Save Yourself from Spiritual Narcissists. Per Becky's research, self-styled spiritual saviors are out hawking salvation and spiritually abusing church members. Why are such spiritual narcissists drawn to so many evangelical churches (and some progressive ones) and becoming small or mega-church pastors and self-proclaimed prophets and apostles? Becky reveals the tactics of gurus who weaponize faith to build empires, including sharing 7 types of spiritual narcissists. 

But this isn’t just a takedown. With humor and grounded hope, Becky charts a path for disentangling from toxic dynamics and finding healthier spiritual spaces. Don't miss this critical conversation to help people expose control-freak faith leaders and find communities that truly nourish the soul.

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What is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and how does it perpetuate toxic charismatic revivalism and Christian nationalism? Pia Hugo joins Michael to share her story of domestic and spiritual abuse within the church that helped start NAR. Learn how she got sucked in, suffered abuse, and eventually saw how evangelical teachings on wife submission, anti-divorce, corporal punishment, prophesy, and apostolic authority formed a dangerous cultic movement that misleads millions of people. Includes her experience in People of Destiny churches, Harvest Rock Church, and with NAR leader Che Ahn.

Find Pia's ministry to domestic and spiritual abuse survivors here: 
https://piahugoministries.com/

Also see Pia's book, Rekindling the Smoldering Wick: Healing Wounds Left by Wolves, where she exposes the spiritual and emotional devastation caused by false shepherds within the Church. She unveils the truth behind these deceptions and offers a path to restoration.
https://www.amazon.com/Rekindling-Smoldering-Wick-Healing-Wounds/dp/B0FGLDLK4H

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Over decades, evangelical worship songwriting became an industry with more and more lyrics depicting spiritual warfare and conquest. Rick Pidcock, a former evangelical and charismatic worship leader for 20 years, joins Michael to talk about how lyrics like "Praise is the water my enemies drown in" shape the people who sing them. His book "Weapons of Worship," is a critical expose that looks behind the worship-industry curtain.

Why does praise and worship music often fit hand-in-glove with right-wing politics and Christian Trumpism? Why is the content of many songs filled with harmful theology about a retributive God and a Jesus soon coming back in apocalyptic judgment? Pidcock uncovers a worship culture increasingly controlled by a set of powerbrokers and shares why this is dangerous to democracy and not even in line with Jesus' teachings. 

Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GQNHHPVT
Visit Rick's Substack, Exiles in Christendom: https://substack.com/@rickpidcock
Read Rick at Baptist News Global: https://baptistnews.com/article/author/rickpidcock/

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Educator and Historian, Dan Henderson, joins Michael to discuss his new book, "Reflections of a Recovered Evangelical: Love Plus Nothing Else." How does one outgrow evangelicalism? Is it possible to follow Jesus outside Christianity? What is the history of the early first century Jesus movement? Why did one of the American founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, reject organized religion? Why is today's movement of Christian Nationalism idolatrous? Why is some American history being erased? Is pacifism, like Jesus supported, feasible? Find the answers in this episode.

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Find Dan's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Recovered-Evangelical-Love-Nothing/dp/1964252954/

Dan's website: https://www.danhendersonauthor.com/

Forthcoming: A course on how to stand up to Christian Nationalism.

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Michael and guest, actor/comedian John Fugelsang, talk about John's new book, The Separation of Church and Hate, which reveals how the Bible has been co-opted by evangelicalism and Catholicism to control the religious masses and access political power. Fugelsang’s message starts with taking down hypocrites but ends with fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity. Shared with Fugelsang’s trademark blend of radical honesty, comedy, and deep political and religious knowledge, the content of this book and this conversation is the stuff every American needs to hear today. It’s a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone of any faith who’s sick of religion being used as a cloaking device for hate and an avenue to political and religious control. Subjects include: how to read the Bible, Jesus' love ethic, care for the poor and marginalized, the Matthew 25 test, sexuality, LGBTQ rights, restorative love and justice, humane immigration policies, violence and the death penalty, war and pacifism, Christian Nationalism, and the recent Rededicate 250 event in D.C.  

Find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Separation-Church-Hate-Fundamentalists-Flock-Fleecing/dp/1668066890/

Find help to leave fundamentalism or evangelicalism here: https://www.faithtransitions.com/

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When evangelical pastor Brian Recker began questioning the rationality of a loving God consigning non-Christians to eternal damnation, it turned his world upside down. But, in the process, a lot of harmful beliefs and evangelical sacred cows began falling to the ground and a refreshing spirituality of love remained. Join Michael as he interviews Brian about his new book, Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Learn how hell takes center stage for conservative-minded Christians, how it disconnects us from ourselves and others, how to deconstruct it with historical and biblical evidence, and how Jesus' love ethic connects us all when hell is exposed for the fraud it is.  

Find Hellbent here: https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Bent-Holds-Christians-Spirituality/dp/0593853199/

Brian's website: https://www.brianrecker.com/

Brian on Instagram:   /berecker  

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For the longest time, Paul's Epistle to the Romans has been used to justify misogyny, homophobia, eternal conscious torment, and blind allegiance to the State. But the truth is that the Apostle Paul never intended his letter to Jesus gatherings in Rome to teach any of those things. Authors Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano join Michael to discuss their new book that corrects these misunderstandings and illuminates the true meaning of Paul's theological masterpiece. Drawing on leading "Pauline" scholars, this content is a must-watch-listen-read for anyone who claims to align with Christ or is deconstructing conservative Christianity. 

the book, Reading Romans Right, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1964252393 

Keith and Matthew are also publishers at Quoir. Discover other books that aren't afraid to challenge assumptions, see beyond comfort zones, and expand the collective consciousness: https://quoir.com/

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Today, we discuss a very important book with our guest author Eric English. It's "The Kingdom of Man: Evangelicalism and the Distortion of Christianity." Eric and I discuss the history of the evangelical movement, what the milestones were when things went south, how we got to where we are today, and some critical correctives to go from a "kingdom of man" to a more authentic society, based on divine love. We discuss: How did a small group of religious people become the most powerful political force in the U.S.? Why are Christians leaving this group? What is Christian Nationalism, and how does Donald Trump fit into this? Guest Eric English writes a column on the Patheos Progressive Christian channel and hosts a podcast called UNenlightenment. He holds advanced degrees in philosophy and theology.

To grab a copy of the book, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Man-Eric-Scot-English-ebook/dp/B0D5RCSZC3/

For more resources, visit: https://thekingdomofman.com/

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I’m excited to have Kathy Shihadah back with us. Kathy is a Writer/Editor/Researcher at "If Americans Knew"—a media organization focused on the Middle East. She’s also a Blogger at Patheos with the title, Grace-Colored Glasses. Moreover, she has close family living in Gaza and at least one family member who has fled Gaza. She has a well-researched and personal perspective on what’s going on in the Israel-Gaza-Hamas War.  

We talk about the Gaza Ceasefire and what’s going on today. There is so much to this story that can make your head spin, so we're glad to have Kathy on to help us sort through a lot of stuff—some of it just plain misinformation you hear in the media. The Ceasefire deal, which was supposed to be into Phase 2 last weekend, is hanging by a thread. Learn what's happening now in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank, and where things might be headed. And, why you should care!

Get Quick and Easy Gaza News Daily: https://israelpalestinenews.org/category/2023-israel-gaza-war/daily-updates/

Israel/Palestine News: https://israelpalestinenews.org/

If Americans Knew: https://ifamericansknew.org/

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Matthew Distefano joins Michael to talk about the sequel to his book "Heretic," called "Heretic Too." It's provocative, insightful, humorous, and healing. We discuss the book and the many issues he addresses therein as an exvangelical, including what it means to follow Jesus, sexuality, women in the "church," corporal punishment, the nature of sin, the doctrine of hell, violent theology, and how to pray to an uncontrolling God. Restorative and healing, the book is a must read and our conversation is a must hear for anyone who continues to question their inherited doctrines.

Find Matthew's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Heretic-Too-Matthew-J-Distefano-ebook/dp/B0DFRR3JJB/

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